Today's News

Beginning Friday, July 13, registered voters will have the opportunity to cast their ballots for the Aug. 2 state primary and county general elections.

Roane County Administrator of Elections Charles Holiway is encouraging voters to take advantage of early voting.

“Early voting is a convenient way for voters to be sure their voices are heard,” Holiway said. “With this kind of flexibility, I hope that our voters will not miss this opportunity to exercise their right to vote.”

Kingston Rotary Club presented its 2011-12 Annual Vocational Service Awards to The Roane Alliance and Allen Lutz, the Alliance’s educational and workforce development specialist.

The awards were presented during an Alliance board meeting June 14 by Bobby Davis of the Kingston Rotary Club. The club honors one organization and one individual yearly for exemplary service to the field of education and workforce development.
Davis said Lutz received the award for demonstrating high ethical standards and values in the performance of his duties.

More than 16,000 Tennessee tax preparers have now registered with Internal Revenue Service, as required by recent regulations, but about 7,000 of them must take an IRS competency examination by Dec. 31, 2013, or they will not be able to prepare tax returns for compensation.

So far, 54 tax preparers in Tennessee have passed the competency exam and, as a result, have been given the new credential of Registered Tax Return Preparer.

Enrolled agents, CPAs and attorneys are not required to take the exam because they already have testing requirements.

The website, www.rickardridgebbq.com, says, “It’s worth the drive! With a gorgeous view of Cove Lake and the Cumberland Mountains. Make sure you bring a big appetite because our goal is to provide you with a truly unique dining experience whether you are BBQ Connoisseur or just want some good eats!”

Don’t need to mention the heat. Each of us has felt the enormous heat, especially our farmers who do most of their work outside. Helping animals find some shade is a challenge to anyone trying not only to find some place for the many cows, little calves and horses that will suffer from the extra heat out in their pastures with little or no place to go to find shade in the near 100-degree heat every day and little or no rain in sight.

Rockwood Mayor James Watts threatened to have Vice Mayor Peggy Evans removed from council chambers Monday when Evans once again brought up the contentious position of city administrator.
“You talked about that the other night, and I think you’ve said enough,” Watts said.